Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

The School of Nursing offers an innovative doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) program with two tracks: (1) post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) or post-master's non-nurse practitioner and (2) post-master's for nurses already licensed and certified as nurse practitioners. Students who enter the D.N.P. program with a B.S.N. or non-nurse practitioner master's degree become family nurse practitioners and earn the D.N.P. degree.  Students who enter the D.N.P. program as master's-prepared nurse practitioners retain their nurse practitioner specialty and earn the D.N.P. degree.

The D.N.P. program prepares nurses to provide health services at the highest level of clinical nursing practice. The curriculum is designed to develop leaders able to expand their impact on the health of society by improving quality of care, patient outcomes and health policy. The program features an integrative health component, which prepares graduates as holistic practitioners who understand many different healing methodologies and practice collaboratively with those who seek care. For post-B.S.N. and post-master's non-nurse practitioner students, there is also an elective focus on caring for the poor, in which students have all their clinical experiences in sites with a majority of underserved and Medicaid patients.

The D.N.P. program incorporates professional standards and guidelines from The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006), the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NTF, 2012), the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies (NONPF, 2012), the Practice Doctorate Nurse Practitioner Entry-level Competencies (NONPF, 2006) the Graduate-Level QSEN Competencies (AACN, 2012) and the Oregon State Board of Nursing in preparation of the curriculum and evaluation of outcomes.

All D.N.P. students complete a comprehensive examination at mid-program to demonstrate progress towards achieving the D.N.P. essentials. Students complete an independent practice improvement project related to advanced nursing practice and prepare a manuscript for publication to disseminate the results. The D.N.P. residency is designed for students to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and use evidence to improve practice or patient outcomes.

D.N.P. Goals and Program Outcomes

The goals and outcomes of the D.N.P. program reflect the mission of the School of Nursing with the focus on the profession of nursing, leadership, high quality care for all populations, inquiry, and social justice. The goals, competencies and outcomes are in alignment with professional nursing standards and guidelines.

The goals and program outcomes of the D.N.P. program are to graduate competent, entry-level family nurse practitioners and experienced nurse practitioners who:

1. Practice independently in a variety of primary care health environments, translate best evidence into practice, employ a population focus, incorporate an integrative healthcare perspective, and collaborate with multiple disciplines with the goal of providing effective, comprehensive healthcare;
2. Demonstrate leadership in macro and micro healthcare system change and personal practice improvement; and
3. Proactively strive for social justice, actively address health disparities and function as culturally competent practitioners who relate effectively with diverse and underserved individuals, families and populations.

D.N.P. Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) or a master’s degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
2. Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in the most recently completed nursing degree program. 
3. For post-B.S.N. applicants: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal score of 150 or above (500 or above if exam was completed prior to August 1, 2011) and an analytical writing score of 3.5 or above; or a score of 50 or greater on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Post-master’s applicants are not required to submit GRE or MAT scores.
4. TOEFL iBT score of 100 or a IELTS score of 7.5, if native language is not English.
5. Current R.N. license to practice nursing in state of residence. R.N. licensure in Oregon is encouraged. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
6. For post-master’s nurse practitioner applicants: Current national and state nurse practitioner certification and currently employed as a nurse practitioner in a clinical setting.
7. For post-B.S.N. and post-master's non-nurse practitioner applicants: Students admitted to the program must complete of a minimum of 800 hours of work as a registered nurse by the start of the 7th semester in the program (by the start of Year 3, Summer Session).
8. For post-B.S.N. and post-master's non-nurse practitioner applicants: A written essay that reflects on the F.N.P. role, the D.N.P. role, and integrative health. For post-master's nurse practitioner applicants: A written essay that reflects on what the D.N.P. education adds to the nurse practitioner role and how integrative health blends with the nurse practitioner role.
9. Three recommendations from persons able to evaluate current competency in nursing and potential for nursing practice at the most advanced level.
10. College-level statistics course.

11. Current résumé.

12. Ability to use a computer for word processing, e-mail and Internet.

13. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing.

Total Credit Hours: 83